During the Old Kingdom it became apparent that the everlastingness of the cult for the deceased was untenable. This necessitated the development of solutions and in order to describe these, a new... Show moreDuring the Old Kingdom it became apparent that the everlastingness of the cult for the deceased was untenable. This necessitated the development of solutions and in order to describe these, a new methodology was developed which quantified the chronological development and all the aspects of interactions of the decoration themes on the total western wall. The basic premise is that there the two main themes (the table scene and the tomb owner with family), although both of them of cultic significance, are “never” placed together on the western wall. The result is that themes are either “cultic” (connected with the daily life or the sustenance) or “non-cultic” (unifying or signalling/guiding). Further research learns that the developments on the elements of the western wall result in a decrease of the importance of the actual supply, while the concomitant increase of the importance of the magical supply is basically visible in the transfer of the offering list, the offering formula and the table scene to the western wall. The signalling, inviting and guiding of passers-by has always been an important function, but one of the consequences of the change in mode of supply is the loss of the guiding function on the western wall. The conclusion is that the methodology has to be applied to all of the decoration in order to have an overall view of the changes and their interactions. Show less
Despite elaborate scholarly attention, the necropolis of Assiut, capital of the 13th Upper Egyptian Nome, has never been properly surveyed. Several of the major excavations, mainly undertaken in... Show moreDespite elaborate scholarly attention, the necropolis of Assiut, capital of the 13th Upper Egyptian Nome, has never been properly surveyed. Several of the major excavations, mainly undertaken in the first decades of the last century, still await publication or more detailed edition. These not only include the French excavations by Chassinat and Palanque (1903-1904), but also the work led by Hogarth for the British Museum (1906-1907), and the digs conducted by Schiaparelli (1905, 1908, 1910, 1911-1913). Whereas the historical significance of Assiut during the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom, and its distinct local style of coffin decoration have long been recognised, the basic requirements for a systematic study of this important site are still absent. The aim of this study is to generate a framework for the social, spatial and chronological development of the necropolis of Assiut, concentrating on the times from the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom. Mainly based on hitherto unpublished material, the available funerary remains are carefully scrutinised to establish a chronological ordering. The approach is multifaceted, among other things using tomb architecture, the morphology of pottery, stone vases, seals, coffin decoration (choice of decoration patterns, textual content, epigraphic and palaeographic features), and their spatial distribution. Their combined analysis results in four distinct (chronological) phases in the funerary culture at Assiut: Late Old Kingdom, First Intermediate Period, Early Middle Kingdom and Advanced - Late Middle Kingdom. The remains and features of each of these phases are discussed, and used as a means to put the history of Assiut into better perspective.A brief survey of contents:Chapter 1 - Introduction, Aims and methodsChapter 2 - Compiles a map of the Necropolis and the tombs of its mayors/nomarchs. With regard to the latter, 7 new candidates are put forward, resulting in a reconsideration of the chronology of the Siutian mayors and nomarchs.Chapter 3 - A full survey of the excavations conducted, their location(s) in the field, results, and problems in analysing the available material and reports.Chapter 4 - Survey of Late Old Kingdom burial grounds identified at AssiutChapter 5 - Survey of First Intermediate Period burial grounds identified at AssiutChapter 6 - Survey of Early Middle Kingdom burial grounds identified at Assiut (I)Chapter 7 - Survey of Early Middle Kingdom burial grounds identified at Assiut (II)Chapter 8 - Survey of Advanced - Late Middle Kingdom burial grounds identified at AssiutChapter 9 - Conclusions Show less
